Archive for the ‘Christmas poems&stories’ Category

In our tradition there is a legend about the Befana . It tells that the three Kings, coming from the East and on the way to adore Baby Jesus, lost the way and asked an old lady to get them to the holy Infant to bring Him their presents. She refused to accompany them , then repent, prepared a basket of sweets for Baby Jesus, and run outside to reach the Kings but didn’t find them.Therefore she stopped in each house on her way and left a sweet for each child hoping to find Baby Jesus. From then, every year, she goes around the world bringing sweets and presents to all the children to have forgiveness for her fault.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

This poem was published for the first time on December 23, 1823 by a New York newspaper, the Sentinel. Since then, the poem has been translated into innumerable languages and circulated throughout the world. Moore read the poem to his wife and six children the night he wrote it, and supposedly thought no more about it. But a family friend heard about it and sent the poem to the newspaper, which published it the following Christmas. Moore’s poem immediately caught the attention and imagination of the state, then the nation, and then the world. Because of his “mere trifle,” as he called it, 185 years ago Clement Clarke Moore almost single-handedly defined our now timeless image of Santa Claus. It is a favourite with children all over the world and is read on Christmas Eve in thousands of houses.

A long time ago, when the fields were covered in snow and the spring was not known yet, Christmas was near to come in the village named Starplace – a village where the stars were brighter than anywhere else and the sky above this village looked like a dark-blue ball with little golden stars on it. A Sad family lived in this village.

Like their name, those people, Anna and Gabriel, were sad because their daughter, Tina, was always sad. Tina was upset and lonely as her parents couldn’t give her a sister or a brother.One day, on Christmas Eve, Tina and her parents were walking through the park after doing some shopping in town. There they found a little boy crying because he’d got lost from his parents. The Sad family stopped to talk to the little boy:“Poor kid, you must be frozen! You lost your parents, didn’t you?” said Anna. But the child didn’t answer and didn’t stop crying.“What’s your name? Who are your parents?” Tina asked trying to calm him down. “Tim, my name’s Tim. Where’s mom?”“We must take to the police to see if your parents let them know that you are lost.” Anna said.Tina thought this was the best occasion to change he life and asked her mother to take Tim to their place until the police would find his parents.“Oh, darling, this can’t be the right thing for us to do, I’m afraid. His parents must be dead worried for him.”But when Anna looked in Tina’s eyes, she saw tears and an imploring look.“OK! But only until Tim’s parents are found.” Gabriel said.

So now they became the happy family for a short time because Tina was happy, too. Tim spent Christmas with them and it was their most beautiful Christmas ever. Tim’s parents showed up the next morning. The two children promised to stay friends for life and visited each other every Christmas. Tina couldn’t get a brother but she won a friend for life and her parents changed the family name into … Happy! A Happy Christmas!

It’s night, / And we are looking forward / To seeing … Santa Claus. / We are looking / At Santa in silence but / He is not seeing us. / We go to bed, / We are tired. / He brings us presents, / Leaves them under the Christmas tree.

It was a snowy day. Nick was staying in the house. Suddenly the phone rang.“Hello. This is Danny.”“Hello, Danny.”“Would you like to come to my house?”“Why?”“I’m bored and I’d like to make a snowman. Would you like to help me?”“Ok, Danny. I think I’m coming. Bye! See you soon.”“Bye. See you.”Knock-knock! At the door: “That’s Nick, mom. We’re going out to play. Bye.”“Bye, Danny. Take care.”They make a beautiful Snow-Woman. Then the boys go to Nick’s house and make another Snow-Man. During their work, some snow from Mrs. Snow-Woman flies in the air and falls on Mr. Snow-Man. The boys finished their snowmen and go inside the house to warm.Because of the snow coming from Mrs. Snow-Woman, the Snow-Man comes to life and falls in love with her. He goes to meet her in Danny’s courtyard and gives her a big hug. Suddenly, Mrs. Snow-Woman comes to life, too. Now they are in love: Snow-Woman loves Snow-Man and Snow-Man loves Snow-Woman back. Their love makes a heart grow in each of them. Their hearts have powerful heat and this melts Snow-Man and Snow-Woman. They die together in a big hug. This is the sad story of Mrs. Snow-Woman and Mr. Snow-Man. They died for their love, but they come to life next winter when Nick and Danny play together again. Do you think they’ll fall in love again?